Car-coupling.



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FRANK JOIIN PENNINGER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,347, dated May 8, 1900.

Application filed July 20. 1899. Serial No. 724,878. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, FRANK JOHN PENNIN- GER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in carcouplings, having for an object to provide improvements in the devices for uncoupling; and the invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims. k

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of oneend of a box-car provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a detail vertical section on about line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section on about line 5 3 of Fig. 4.. Fig. A is a detail side View of the bearing-bracket for the outer end of the uncoupling-shaft, showing such shaft and its crank-handle in place. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of the spring-link for connecting the coupling device with the lifting-crank of the uncoupling-shaft. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view illustrating a modification for use on gondola or other flat-cars, and Figs. 8 and 9 are detail sectional views illustrating the operation of the crank-handle on the camsurface adjacent to the outer bearing of the shaft.

In carrying out my invention I employ an uncoupling-shaft A, which is provided at its inner end with a crank A for connection with the coupling devices and at its outer end with a crank-handle A2, which is preferably pivoted to the shaft A at A3 and is provided with a short extension A4 beyond said pivot, which extension rides on the inclined or cam surface A5, adjacent to the outer bearing for the shaft A, in turning the said shaft to position to uncouple the coupling.

The shaft A is journaled in an inner bearing B and an outer bearing C. The inner bearing B is shown in detail in Fig. 2 and comprises a swinging bar B', having the bearing or journal B2 for the shaft A at one end and pivoted at its other end B3, so the journal end of the bar B can swing forward to per- The outer end of the crank A' is connected with the pin E or other suitable coupling de'- vice by the spring connection F. (Shown in Fig. l and illustrated in detail in Figs. 5 and 6.) This spring connection is composed of a casing F', provided in its lower end with an opening F2 for the bolt F3 and has at its upper end the lugs F4, provided with the plurality of openings F5 for the pin F6, which secures the connection F to the crank A", thus permitting the adjustment of the connection F upon the crank A as desired. The bolt F3 has at its upper end a suitable head, and the spring G bearsbetween such head and the bottom of the casing F', as shown in Fig. 6. The bolt F3 extends through and below the casing F and is threaded to receive the link G', which connects with the ring G2 of the coupling device E. The bolt F8 is provided with a series of perforations G3, ranging from its lower end to receive the cross pin or key G4, which may be inserted, as shown in Fig. 6, to prevent the accidental offturning of the link G, which is threaded on said bolt, as shown in Fig. 6. This spring connection aids in permitting the free longitudinal movement of the draw-head without injury to the uncoupling devices and also enables the convenient adjustment of the parts to properly uncouple by the operation of the shaft A when Vso desired.

The shaft A has a slight longitudinal movement in both its inner and outer bearings, such movement in the outward direction being spring-resisted by means of the coil-spring II and the bow-spring I, arranged as shown in Figs. l and 8, from which it will be seen that the bow-spring I 4overlies the coil-spring H and both springs II and I react between the outer bearing for the shaft A and a pin J on the said shaft,` as shown in Fig. 8, thus tending to force the shaft A inward and to IOO hold it in such position and to readj ust it to such position when displaced by the crankhandle, as presently described.

The crank-handle bears at its extension A4 against the cam-surface A5, and when turned to the position shown in Fig. l will lift' the coupling device E and will be heldin such position by engagement with the rack K, as shown in Figs. l, 4, and 8. As the handle A2 is turned to the position shown in Figs. l and 8 the riding of its extension A4 on the cam-surface A5 will put .the springs I-I and I under tension and so actuate the shaft A longitudinally as to secure the handle A2 firmly in engagement with the rack K, so it will not be accidentally displaced.

L By .my invention it will be seen I furnish an. uncoupling device which operates on a hinged principle and is adapted for uncoupling all forms of Master Oar-Builders coup- 1ers which ordinarily require a special uncoupling device. By myinvention the coupling device can be operated at different heights and can be held in uncoupled posi.- tion.. It will also be noticed that I employ a special spring construction which so operates upon the uncoupling-shaft as to hold the crank-lever in the desired position, either coupled or uncoupled, as well as a spring connection between the crank-arm and the coupling device, which will yield in the direction ofthe coupler when the pulling strain is very excessive or when such strain would tend to break an unyielding connection. This spring connection also permits a yielding lengthwise or sidewise of the draw-head, while the swinging bearing-bar B' aids in permitting the longitudinal movement of the draw-head under strain.

As shown in Fig. l, I provide a guard L, which extends over the uncoupling devices, andV being fixed rigidly to the end of the car operates to protect the uncoupling devices from the weather and from damage from colliding cars when pushed against each other, either accidentally or intentionally.

`In the construction shown in Fig. 1 the swinging bearing-bar is adapted for use on box-cars or other cars which have ample room vertically for the play of the bar B. In gon- (lola-cars and other Hat-cars it may be desired to arrange the bearing-bars horizontally, as shown in Fig. 7, instead of vertically, as shown in Fig. l. In the construction shown in Fig. 7 the bearing-bar is provided with a right-angular forwardly-projecting arm b, Ywhich is provided with the opening h', in which the shaft A journals. In other respects the bearing-bar shown in Fig. 7 may be constructed and actuated like that shown in Figs. l and 2.

coupling. It will be seen that the springs H and I operate to hold the operating-handle A2 firmly in the notch a2 until itis intentionally released.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is`

l. A car-coupler having an uncoupling device comprising a shaft provided at its inner end with means for releasing the coupling device and a bar swinging in the direction of the length of the car and having a bearing for the inner end of said shaft, substantially asset forth.

2. In a carcoupler substantially as described, the combination of the shaft provided at its inner end with means for operating the coupling device, a swinging bar having near one end a bearing for said shaft, a support to which said bar is pivotcd at itsV opposite end and a spring-actuated bolt engaging said bar whereby to normally retract the same, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the shaft for uncoupling the coupling device, bearings in which said shaft is movable longitudinally, an operating crank-handle pivotcd to said shaft, and a cam-surface on which said crankhandle operates, and a spring for resisting the endwise movement of the shaft, substantially asset fort-h.

4. The combination with the uncouplingshaft and bearings in which said shaft is movable longitudinally, of the operating crankhandle pivotcd to the uncoupling-shaft,spring devices for operating said shaft longitudinally, a cam-surface engaged by the crankhandle, and a rack with which the crankhandle engages, substantially as set forth.

5. In a car-coupling, the combination of the uncoupling-shaft having the operatinghandle, the coupling devices arranged for operation by such shaft, a coil-spring on-said shaft for actuating the shaft longitudinally, a 'bow-spring extending outside of and alongside the coil-spring and fitted at its ends on the shaft at the opposite ends of the coilspring, and a rack or plate havinga notch in which the operating-handle is held when the parts are in coupled position, substantially as set forth.

6. In a car-coupling, the combination with the uncoupling-shaft having a crank-arm, of the connection between said arm and the uncoupling device, such connection consisting of a casing provided with lugs having a plurality of openings for the bolt which secures it to the crank-arm, a headed bolt passed through said casing and having at its lower end'an adjustable link for connection with the uncoupling devices, and a springV in said casing, substantially as set forth.

7. In a car-coupling, the combination of the uncoupling-shaft movable lengthwise in its bearings, the handle-lever pivotcd to said shaft and having at one end an extension, a

IOO

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cam-surface arranged for engagement by said operates, a notch being provided for said han- 1o extension, a detenta-rack arranged for engagedle at the end of Said cam-surface and a spring ment by the handle-lever and spring devices 5 actuating the shaft endwise, substantially as for actuating the shaft longitudinally, sub- I set forth.

stantially as set forth.

T 8. The combination of the longitudiually- FRANK JOHN PENBINGER movable shaft for unooupling the coupling Witnesses: device, an operating crank-handle on said S. L. WEBB, shaft, a Cain-surface on which said handle W. B. DAVIS. 

